Get access to in-depth analysis: Beyond the crockpots and face painting, Carnival races serve up high-level competition, with top-ranked juniors and former D-team skiers generating minimum point penalties.

Deneriaz, an expert at the gliding technique that the Saslong demands, won this downhill in 2002 and ’03.

”I feel like I could go down the course on my hands and I would still be in the race here,” Deneriaz said.

Daron Rahlves and Bode Miller placed fifth and 17th, respectively. Miller stood up out of his tuck at the end of his run, costing him some time.

”That’s unbelievable for Daron on this course. If he skis like that he could win,” Miller said, adding that he was hoping to benefit from having the same ski manufacturer as his teammate. ”That’s probably a good sign for me, too. If they learn something today with the skis.”

Miller holds an 11-point lead on Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal in the overall World Cup standings with 378 points. Svindal fell in the second half of his run and appeared to be suffering from pain in his left shoulder.